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Description
As far as the city of Messolonghi is concerned, one can become aware of the degradation of its squares and the lack of strategic planning by the local authorities for their regeneration. Lack of greenery, urban equipment and infrastructure that allows access to the disabled, reveals their long lasting abandonment. The project "Our Square, Our Place" focuses on the revitalization of one of the many squares of Messolonghi, located in a central neighbourhood of the city. "Milestone" of the project will be a day of open dialogue in which a participatory design workshop will be implemented using innovative for the city structured dialogue methodologies such as World Café and Open Space Technology, etc. Participants will be local authorities, entrepreneurs and residents of the neighbourhood. The goal will be to give a voice to citizens to express their needs and ideas for targeted urban improvement interventions of the square but also for events that will turn the square into a vital core of the neighbourhood. During the following period, "Messolonghi by Locals" in collaboration with the citizens will carry out some of the co-decided actions where they will see their ideas become reality. The project will be a good practice and example for the participatory planning of future renovation projects of public spaces in the city where citizens will play a key role in the decision-making process.
Summary of project results
Initially the project was entitled "Our square, our place" and focused on the revitalization of one of the many squares of Messolonghi, located in a central neighborhood of the city. The aim was to give a voice to citizens to express their needs and ideas for targeted urban upgrading interventions and quality events that would turn the square into a vital cell of the neighbourhood. In addition, the aim was for the project to be a good practice for the participatory planning of future redevelopments of public spaces in the city where citizens will play a key role in the decision-making process.
Due to the new circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the CSO requested a modification to change the location of the main point of implementation of the project activities: from the square "Ath. Razikotsika" to the "Klisova''s Alcillion". The objectives and expected results remained the same as in its initial application as the modification of the point did not change the character of the action. The Alcillion of Klisova was the safest place in terms of the spread of covid-19 as due to its large area it would not create crowding phenomena as could be created in the square within the urban fabric. Moreover, the ''Klisova Alcyllium'' is located close to the lagoon and its history is a living example of selflessness, civic participation and collective effort. The promotion of the "Klisova''s Alcyllium" has been a strategic goal of Messolonghi by Locals in recent years in the context of the development of responsible tourism in Messolonghi. Thus, the project "ACTION FOR A LIVING ALSYLLIUM OF KLISOVA" focused on the revitalization of the Alsylion of the lagoon of Kleisova, which, although it is located near the city and is a point of particular beauty and environmental value, for years remains forgotten.
Through the participation, cooperation and activation of citizens and local CSOs, the value of "Klisova''s Alcyllion" was highlighted as a route where people can come into direct contact with the nature of the internationally important wetland of the Messolonghi-Aitoliko Lagoon. The project actions included (a) the creation of a "multimodal" "awareness raising" bicycle, (b) the creation of the map "Tour of Klisova" which has been distributed to at least 2500 people until the end of the project implementation, (c) the implementation of a bicycle ride in Alsyllion, (d) the creation of questionnaires for citizens on the interventions they envision for the revitalization of Alsyllion and (e) the implementation of a 4 km voluntary clean-up in the lagoon with the participation of 120 volunteers of all ages and the collection of 162 bags of garbage and bazaars. As part of the project and the awareness campaign, T-shirts with the message "WORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT-SUMMIT FOR CHANGE" were distributed to the participants. The awareness campaign aimed to highlight citizen participation as the key ingredient that can bring change to a place. This was done both through T-Shirts that spread the message of motivation to participate in the actions and through social media that through audiovisual material highlighted both the participation of citizens in action and the positive results of this participation.
The project was the starting point for discussion in the local community of Messolonghi and the wider area ,on issues related to the cause of the degradation of the lagoon, for the creation of new ideas on ways to solve environmental problems and for action that will bring positive change to the city and its important ecosystem from within the local community and active citizenship.
Through the the said project "Action for a Living Alcyllium of Klisova" the CSO managed to create a "positive" precedent for active citizen participation and volunteerism. In a general climate of pessimism of a local community disappointed by the management of public spaces in the city by the institutions, through the project a hope for the future of Alsyllion was born. The massive participation in the clean-up actions was a proof of the positive results that can be created once every citizen puts in his or her bit. The action became an element to motivate even more people to participate in similar actions. In addition, citizens of all ages actively participated and became part of the goal of vibrant public spaces. Thus, an important step towards achieving the organisation''s vision of vibrant public spaces in the sense of a common place where local people meet, share views and ideas and through collective action create a promising present and future.